Gambia:Interior Minister Was Aware of The Torture

Source:dailynews.gm

Former operations commander of the National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDEA), Mr Ousman Sanneh has said that the minister of Interior Ousman Sonko was aware of the torture meted out on two anti-drug officers by four personnel of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) in 2009.
“Minister Sonko was aware of the torture because Ebrima Bun Sanneh reported the matter to him,” Sanneh said while testifying in the torture case involving the four NIA operatives.
The trial which is underway at the Banjul Magistrates’ Court involves Lamin Darboe, Ebrima Drammeh, Edrissa Jobe and Omar Jammeh.
They are alleged to have caused grievous bodily harm to Lamin Kabou and Lamin Sima by beating them with fist blows, electric cables and metals at the NIA headquarters in Banjul. All accused persons denied the charges.
Sanneh’s statement according to the accused person’s lawyer was a bit in conflict with the former NDEA boss, Bun Sanneh who had told the court that the matter was not reported to Minister Sonko. But the witness maintained that what he had said the truth.
“Did you report the matter to the police,” defense lawyer Sissoho asked.  “I personally did not report the matter because the then IGP was aware of it,” the witness said.
However, he told the court that the alleged torture incident did not happen in their presence.
 “I have not seen them with my naked eyes but I saw the signs of torture all over their bodies.”
He said the drug officers claimed to be tortured, but were never taken to any hospital for medical treatment.
Still under cross-examination, Sanneh told the court that NDEA is the lead agency in drug related matters.
 “Is NDEA the only agency in The Gambia empowered to investigate drug related matters,” lawyer Sissoho inquired.
 “Yes Sanneh replied, adding that the police can arrest and hand over any drug suspect but should not interfere likewise the NIA.”
 He added that his men - Lamin Kabou and Lamin Sima - were charged and arraigned before the Banjul Magistrates’ Court. He said he had earlier told the panel at the NIA that they have no criminal case against the two.
“At the panel I asked the accused persons what wrong had the NDEA officers committed and the 3rd accused responded that they were obstructed by Lamin Kabou and Lamin Sima while executing their duty,” he said.
The case will resume August 19, 2011.
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Author: Binta A Bah

Gambia ALERT: Dismissed sports editor receives death threats

Nanama Keita, a dismissed Deputy - Editor-in-Chief of the pro-government Banjul-based Daily Observer newspaper, on July 27, 2011 filed a complaint at the Kairaba Police Station in Banjul about consistent threats to his life by unknown persons.

Media Foundation for West Africa's (MFWA) sources reported that Keita has been receiving life threatening SMS texts since July 5. The sources said the latest threats came to him on July 15. In the last threat Keita was allegedly warned to either leave the country, if he values his life, or be taught a lesson that he will never forget. The police have promised investigating the threats.

Keita has since July 5 been standing trial for allegedly "giving false information to a public officer." This was after he petitioned President Yahya Jammeh over his wrongful dismissal from the Daily Observer newspaper. 

On July 4, Keita was arrested and detained overnight and charged with the offence. He was released upon the intervention of the Gambian Press Union. The sources said he was accused of leaking information to an online US-based Gambia website, Freedom Newspaper. 

For more information Please contact:

Kwame Karikari (Prof)

Executive Director

MFWA

Accra

Tel: 233-30-22 4 24 70

Fax: 233-302-22 10 84

Email: mfwa@africaonline.com.gh, alerts@mediafound.org

Website: www.mediafound.org

Gambia:Gambian Human and Civil Rights Organizations Form Coalition (CSAG)

Press Release: Civil Society Associations Gambia

After three months of sustained consultations and meetings, we the undersigned Gambian human and civil rights organizations have agreed to form a coalition, hence forth known as Civil Society Associations Gambia (CSAG). The decision to form a coalition is driven by an intense desire to join our individual efforts in order to maximize our effectiveness in dealing with the daunting problems of human rights abuses in The Gambia. In the seventeen years since the overthrow of the democratically elected government in The Gambia, human rights violations have become a constant feature in the daily life of Gambians. The founding of Civil Society Associations Gambia (CSAG) is, therefore, an endeavor to address the menace of human and civil rights violations and the restoration of democracy and the rule of law. Today, it has become evident from the history of the past sixteen years that we must continue to expose and find remedy for the lack of democracy, the rule of law and the perennial human rights abuses, which have become an issue of overarching concern to Gambian as well as our regional and international human rights partners and friend of The Gambia around the world. The proliferation of Gambian human rights organizations around the world, and outside Gambian shores is a testament to the sheer magnitude of the problem we face as a country. In order to help address these concerns, the Civil Society Associations Gambia, as a coalition, will endeavor to:

· Facilitate and enhance our individual activities aimed at restoring Democracy, the Rule of Law, Sovereignty of the Gambian people, and the establishment of Good Governance that guarantees the Freedoms and Rights of Gambian citizens.

· Co-ordinate our collective actions and activities in all areas of the defense of the Human Rights of the Gambian people, regardless of political affiliation, nationality, regional and ethnic affinities and affiliations.

· Monitor Human Rights issues, exchange protocols and devise joint action to maximize the impact and outcome of our efforts.

· Engage in all efforts that will ensure that all national institutions in Gambia adhere to the Rule of Law, Due Process and fair and equitable treatment of citizens and without fear and favor.

· Monitor all binding international agreements entered by into by The Gambia such as The African Charter of Human Rights, UN Convention on the Rights of citizens etc. with a view to ensure compliance to the letter and spirit of these Agreements.

· Exchange, inform and share with likeminded organizations around the world all matters as deemed appropriate, relating to the realization of CSAG’s broad aims and objectives.

· Identify all areas of injustice, inequality and discrimination that engender and breed Abuses of the Rights of citizens and communities, with a view to engage in public debates in order to end all such practices.

Signatory member organizations of Civil Society Associations Gambia (CSAG)

Campaign for Human Rights in Gambia UK(CHRG)

Save The Gambia Democracy Project-STGDP (US)

Coalition for Human Rights The Gambia-CHRTG (UK)

Human Rights for All HUMRA (Sweden)

National Movement for the Restoration of Democracy in Gambia-NMRDG (US)

United Gambia for Democracy and Freedom-UGDF (Senegal)

Coalition for Change-Gambia-CCG (Gambia)

CSAG is open to all Gambian civil society organizations that wish to become a part of the struggle to restore the rule of law in The Gambia, and we further ecourage Gambians and friends of The Gambia around the world to join us in this struggle.

Signed                                                Signed

Banka Manneh                                          Ndey Tapha-Sosseh

Chairman                                                     Secretary General

Gambia :Commemorating The Gambia’s tragic day; July 22 1994

On July 22 2011, Gambians once again remembered that fateful day seventeen years ago when the Gambian military toppled the democratically elected government of The Gambia. It is an occasion when Gambians and friends of the Gambian people around the world again reflect on horrible legacy of the military regime that usurped the power of the Gambian state. In the past seventeen years since Yahya Jammeh came to power through the barrel of a gun, Gambians have experienced an unprecedented level of human and civil rights abuses and economic mismanagement. Yahya Jammeh’s regime has  achieved notoriety as one of the most brutal and corrupt on the African continent, with an unenviable legacy of extrajudicial summary executions, murders, tortures, forced disappearances, and incarceration of innocent citizens. In addition, the intimidation and terror unleashed against the Gambian people, which are a constant feature in the regime’s governance method, have taken their toll as debilitating and paralyzing both mentally and physically. But in his determination to hold on to power by instilling fear in the minds of Gambians, Yahya Jammeh’s brutal regime has not confined its terrorism to Gambians citizens alone. The massacre of Ghanaians six years ago and the infrequent, yet regular expulsion of foreign workers with diplomatic immunity are an additional stain on the character of Yahya Jammeh and his regime. This year, as we once again mark the anniversary of that sad day seventeen years ago when Yahya Jammeh took over the reigns of power, we are reminded of the scores of murdered and executed Gambians, the dozens of forced disappearances, the several hundred political prisoners and thousands of Gambians who fled their homeland into exile. And as we remember them, we resolve to continue to seek justice for them, and above all, work towards a Gambia free of tyranny and the rule of fear; a Gambia where all citizens are free to pursue happiness each in their own way. As the awareness of the gross human and civil rights abuses in The Gambia have become known, the Day of Action spearheaded by Amnesty International (AI), has taken on a new sense of urgency as The Gambia continues its decent into unfathomable political and economic degeneration. This year like previous years has been marked by the deaths of more innocent citizens and the intimidation through frequent arrests and detention continues unabated. Most recently, Dr. Amadou Scattred Janneh and four other innocent Gambians have been arrested and detained and charged under the pretext of national security. It is, therefore, in recognition of the dire situation Gambians find themselves in that we the undersigned consortium of Gambian organizations, henceforth known as Civil Society Associations-Gambia (CSAG), demand that Yahya Jammeh’s regime cease the rule of fear and restore democracy and human and civil rights in The Gambia by:

• Freeing all political prisoners
• Stop the execution, murders, and forced disappearances of innocent citizens
• Release all innocent captives languishing in prisons and jails around the country
• Produce Chief Ebrima Manneh and Kanyiba Kanyi to their families
• End the arbitrary arrests and detentions
• Stop the harassment of citizens by police and National Security agents
• Disband the murderous Jammeh youth brigade
• Restore the freedom of the press
• Free Dr. Amadou Scattred Janneh and his co-defendants
• Reinstitute the two-term limit in the Gambian Constitution

1. Gambia Campaign to Fight Human Rights Violations-CFHRV (Scotland)

2. Save The Gambia Democracy Project-STGDP (US)

3. Coalition for Human Rights The Gambia-CHRTG (UK)

4. Human Rights for All HUMRA (Sweden)

      5. Movement For Democracy and Development MFDD (US)

      6. National Movement for the Restoration of Democracy in Gambia-NMRDG (US)

7. United Gambia for Democracy and Freedom-UGDF (Senegal)

8. Coalition for Change-Gambia-CCG (Gambia)

Signed                                                                                          Signed

Banka Manneh                                                                           Ndey Tapha-Sosseh

Chairman                                                                                    Secretary General

Article 19 Press Release: Free speech and journalists security still under threat

Banjul 22.07.11: On the annual day of national celebration to mark the 17th anniversary of President Yahya Jammeh's arrival in power, ARTICLE 19 reiterates its concerns over the repression of free speech and the prevailing climate of fear, which continues to hinder the work of journalists and human rights organisations operating in the Gambia.

"Gambia is planning to hold presidential elections in November 2011, but the current insecurity and repressive environment does not augur well for free and fair elections. The government must take immediate steps to secure the right to freedom of opinion and expression of all human rights defenders, and the right of the media to operate freely and without fear, in accordance with Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Right" says Dr. Agnes Callamard, Executive Director of ARTICLE 19.

Over the past decade, ARTICLE 19 has consistently monitored and denounced the lack of public space for Gambians - especially journalists - to freely express their views and opinions, and the harassment of political opponents and government critics.

"With the 17th anniversary of Jammeh's Presidency comes the pressing need for the government to safeguard freedom of speech and not continue to repress it by intimidating journalists, human right organisations and civil society." says Fatou Jagne Senghore, ARTICLE 19 West Africa Representative.

At this time, ARTICLE 19 remains deeply concerned by the government's failure to conduct effective, independent, prompt and transparent investigation into the assassination of journalist Deyda Hydara on 16 December 2004 and the disappearance of Ebrima Manneh since 7 July 2006.

ARTICLE 19 is further concerned by the government's use of draconian and undemocratic laws to silence critical voices, including sedition and treason charges, which are constantly invoked to punish and intimidate government critics, including journalists.

The most recent case involves the treason and sedition charges that were brought against the former president of the Gambia Press Union, N'dey Tapha Sosseh for "conspiracy to usurp the executive powers of the state," on 19 July 2011. These charges are reportedly linked to the ongoing trial of former Minister of Information and Communication, Dr. Amadou Scattered
Janneh, and others, who have been arrested and charged with treason for having distributed t-shirts bearing the slogan "Coalition for Change - The Gambia: End Dictatorship Now."

About ARTICLE 19
ARTICLE 19 is an independent human rights organisation that works globally to protect and promote the right to freedom of expression. It takes its name from Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees free speech.